NETLEY APPOINTMENTS
1
68 NETLEY APPOINTMENTS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—Apropos to your remarks on the above subject, I ask permission to make a few observations on the communica- tions which gave rise to them, and which, if left without notice, might mislead others as well as yourself. There is one error which appears to me to underlie nearly all others in this matter-viz., that the Army Medical School exists for the purpose of providing " appointments" for army medical officers. Now nothing of the kind was con- templated by those who established it. This is well seen in the fact that out of the four Professors originally ap- pointed, only one belonged to the British Army. Two were taken from civil life, and one from the army of India. The determination from the first was to obtain the services of the fittest men, and the question of narrowing the selection was not entertained for a moment. Inasmuch as the assistants to the Professors have certain duties to perform which can only be performed by medical officers of the British Army, the selection was restricted to the departmental list. But, as in the case of the Professors, fitness for the special duties required was the only other consideration that governed the selection of officers for the posts in question. Three out of four of those first ap- pointed had passed through the course of special instruc- tion in the school, and in this way their qualifications be- came known to the Senate, on whose recommendation they were appointed by the Secretary for War. The writer in the Broad Arrow so expresses himself as to lead his readers to believe that all the assistants to the Professors were re- appointed at the end of their first term of office. Now this is a mistake. One was obliged to retire on account of ill- health ; another resigned ; so that in point of fact two only were reappointed- a measure within the power of the ’, Senate to recommend in cases of special fitness, and of the Secretary of State to sanction according to the organisation of the school. The vacancies were filled by the appoint- ment of an officer of tried experience and distinction, who had been promoted and decorated for distinguished service in the field, and for special excellence in that branch of the specialties of military medical duty he was required to assist in teaching at Netley ; and by a young medical officer who entered the army in the first instance through the Army Medical School, where he greatly distinguished him- self in every branch of study there taught, and more parti- cularly in the one to which he now devotes himself as a teacher. The selection of such men is in itself a sufficient reply to the insinuations thrown out against those who are responsible for the recommendations they make. With regard to the reappointment of the two assistants, it is only necessary to add that one of them is, by universal consent, the destined successor of the present eminent Pro- fessor of Hygiene, at, all hope, a yet distant day, and, next to that distinguished man, the highest authority on mili- tary hygiene in this kingdom. It may suit the purpose of such writers as air their crude and hazy notions on the sub- ject of military medical education in the pages of the Broad Arrow, to discard a teacher of such eminence and proved ability as Dr. De Chaumont, on the desperate chance of finding his equal among the unknown ; but those who are responsible to the authorities, to the army, and to the pub- lic, take a different view of their duty in this matter; and the reasons which governed a like decision in the case of the other assistant were the same in kind. In conclusion, I must advert for a moment to one other point. For five years the gentlemen whose reappointment has stirred the bile of the writer in the Broad Arrow, per- formed their extra duties without one farthing of extra pay, in this particular differing from all military officers em- ployed in any of the educational establishments under Government. On the recommendation of the Senate, the Treasury allowed the small addition of .8100 a year to their pay during their second tenure of office. It will scarcely be credited that the author of the grumbling communications in the Broad Arrow sees no necessity for this small boon; although, if he had taken the trouble to inquire, he migh1 have ascertained that the scientific labours and investiga- tions of one of the assistant professors represent, in money’ worth, a sum equal to the paltry salary thus jealousl; grudged three times told. There is a saying in the Department that its wors enemies are to be found within its ranks. The truth o this humiliating confession was never better illustrates than in the pitiful whinings of the writer under notice He has indeed shot his 11 arrows " over his " house," bu they are too pointless to hurt even his "friends." I am, Sir, your obedient servant, L. July 5th, 1869. THE PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL TO MR. SYME. C. MURCHISON, M.D., F.R.S., formerly one of Mr. Syme’s house-surgeons. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-I am glad to see that the subject of a testimonial to Mr. Syme has been ventilated in your columns, because I am confirmed in the view that the proposal which I have long intended to make will meet with cordial support. My proposal is to raise a testimonial which shall have a twofold object-viz.: lst, to place a marble bust of Mr. Syme in the hall of the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, or in the University Library, as may hereafter be deter- mined ; and, 2nd, to found a Fellowship in Surgery in the Edinburgh University, to be called ,The Syme Surgical Fellowship." For these objects a sum of not less than 2500 will be required, but I do not apprehend that there will be much difficulty in raising this sum among the many old pupils of Mr. Syme scattered over the whole world. A meeting will shortly be called in London to organise measures for carrying out the above objects, or such others as may be agreed on; and in the meantime I shall be happy to receive promises of subscriptions, as well as the names of gentlemen desirous of serving on the Syme Testimonial Committee. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, C. MURCHISON, M.D., F.R.S., formerly one of Mr. Syme’s house-surgeons. Wimpole-street, London, W., June 22nd, 1869. DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF THE PRO- FESSION IN THE MEDICAL COUNCIL. EDWARD WATERS, Chairman and Convener of the Committee. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIB,—The Lord President of the Privy Council has con- sented to receive, at the Privy Council Office, on Monday next, the 12th inst., at 3 P.M., a deputation from the Com- mittee of the British Medical Association, appointed at the annual meeting held at Oxford, in August, 1868, in order to obtain direct representation of the profession in the General Medical Council. The Committee will be glad of the support of such mem- bers of the profession as can make it convenient to attend. The Committee will assemble at the residence of Dr. Sibson 59, Brook-street, at one o’clock on that day, and Dr. Sib- son will be happy to receive all supporters of the deputation. I am. Sir. vour obedient servant. licholas-street, Chester, July 7th, 1869. THE MANAGERS OF THE ROYAL INFIRMARY AND MR. LAWRIE. EDWARD LAWRIE. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—With. reference to Mr. Spence’s " statement " in THE LANCET of last Saturday, I hope you will allow me to re- mark, that with the exception of a slight mistake as re- gards the strength of the oil used to dress the wound, for which I beg to express my regret, everything that I asserted in my letter of June 19th was strictly in accordance with fact. I may add that one of my brother house-surgeons would ! gladly substantiate the accuracy of my former statements, through the medium of your columns, did he feel sure that , he would not be subjected to the same treatment which I ; have experienced at the hands of the Managers of the ’ Roval Infirmarv. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Transcript of NETLEY APPOINTMENTS
68
NETLEY APPOINTMENTS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—Apropos to your remarks on the above subject, I askpermission to make a few observations on the communica-tions which gave rise to them, and which, if left withoutnotice, might mislead others as well as yourself.There is one error which appears to me to underlie nearly
all others in this matter-viz., that the Army Medical Schoolexists for the purpose of providing " appointments" forarmy medical officers. Now nothing of the kind was con-templated by those who established it. This is well seen inthe fact that out of the four Professors originally ap-pointed, only one belonged to the British Army. Two were
taken from civil life, and one from the army of India. The
determination from the first was to obtain the services ofthe fittest men, and the question of narrowing the selectionwas not entertained for a moment.
Inasmuch as the assistants to the Professors have certainduties to perform which can only be performed by medicalofficers of the British Army, the selection was restricted tothe departmental list. But, as in the case of the Professors,fitness for the special duties required was the only otherconsideration that governed the selection of officers for theposts in question. Three out of four of those first ap-pointed had passed through the course of special instruc-tion in the school, and in this way their qualifications be-came known to the Senate, on whose recommendation theywere appointed by the Secretary for War. The writer inthe Broad Arrow so expresses himself as to lead his readersto believe that all the assistants to the Professors were re-
appointed at the end of their first term of office. Now thisis a mistake. One was obliged to retire on account of ill-health ; another resigned ; so that in point of fact two onlywere reappointed- a measure within the power of the ’,Senate to recommend in cases of special fitness, and of theSecretary of State to sanction according to the organisationof the school. The vacancies were filled by the appoint-ment of an officer of tried experience and distinction, whohad been promoted and decorated for distinguished servicein the field, and for special excellence in that branch of thespecialties of military medical duty he was required toassist in teaching at Netley ; and by a young medical officerwho entered the army in the first instance through theArmy Medical School, where he greatly distinguished him-self in every branch of study there taught, and more parti-cularly in the one to which he now devotes himself as ateacher. The selection of such men is in itself a sufficientreply to the insinuations thrown out against those who areresponsible for the recommendations they make.With regard to the reappointment of the two assistants,
it is only necessary to add that one of them is, by universalconsent, the destined successor of the present eminent Pro-fessor of Hygiene, at, all hope, a yet distant day, and, nextto that distinguished man, the highest authority on mili-tary hygiene in this kingdom. It may suit the purpose ofsuch writers as air their crude and hazy notions on the sub-ject of military medical education in the pages of the BroadArrow, to discard a teacher of such eminence and provedability as Dr. De Chaumont, on the desperate chance of
finding his equal among the unknown ; but those who areresponsible to the authorities, to the army, and to the pub-lic, take a different view of their duty in this matter; andthe reasons which governed a like decision in the case ofthe other assistant were the same in kind.In conclusion, I must advert for a moment to one other
point. For five years the gentlemen whose reappointmenthas stirred the bile of the writer in the Broad Arrow, per-formed their extra duties without one farthing of extra pay,in this particular differing from all military officers em-ployed in any of the educational establishments underGovernment. On the recommendation of the Senate, theTreasury allowed the small addition of .8100 a year to theirpay during their second tenure of office. It will scarcely becredited that the author of the grumbling communicationsin the Broad Arrow sees no necessity for this small boon;although, if he had taken the trouble to inquire, he migh1have ascertained that the scientific labours and investiga-tions of one of the assistant professors represent, in money’
worth, a sum equal to the paltry salary thus jealousl;grudged three times told.There is a saying in the Department that its wors
enemies are to be found within its ranks. The truth othis humiliating confession was never better illustratesthan in the pitiful whinings of the writer under noticeHe has indeed shot his 11 arrows " over his " house," buthey are too pointless to hurt even his "friends."
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, L.July 5th, 1869.
-----
THE PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL TO MR. SYME.
C. MURCHISON, M.D., F.R.S.,formerly one of Mr. Syme’s house-surgeons.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-I am glad to see that the subject of a testimonialto Mr. Syme has been ventilated in your columns, becauseI am confirmed in the view that the proposal which I havelong intended to make will meet with cordial support.
My proposal is to raise a testimonial which shall have atwofold object-viz.: lst, to place a marble bust of Mr.Syme in the hall of the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh,or in the University Library, as may hereafter be deter-mined ; and, 2nd, to found a Fellowship in Surgery in theEdinburgh University, to be called ,The Syme SurgicalFellowship."For these objects a sum of not less than 2500 will be
required, but I do not apprehend that there will be muchdifficulty in raising this sum among the many old pupils ofMr. Syme scattered over the whole world.A meeting will shortly be called in London to organise
measures for carrying out the above objects, or such othersas may be agreed on; and in the meantime I shall be happyto receive promises of subscriptions, as well as the namesof gentlemen desirous of serving on the Syme TestimonialCommittee.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,C. MURCHISON, M.D., F.R.S.,
formerly one of Mr. Syme’s house-surgeons.Wimpole-street, London, W., June 22nd, 1869.
DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF THE PRO-FESSION IN THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.
EDWARD WATERS,Chairman and Convener of the Committee.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIB,—The Lord President of the Privy Council has con-sented to receive, at the Privy Council Office, on Mondaynext, the 12th inst., at 3 P.M., a deputation from the Com-mittee of the British Medical Association, appointed at theannual meeting held at Oxford, in August, 1868, in orderto obtain direct representation of the profession in theGeneral Medical Council.The Committee will be glad of the support of such mem-
bers of the profession as can make it convenient to attend.The Committee will assemble at the residence of Dr. Sibson59, Brook-street, at one o’clock on that day, and Dr. Sib-son will be happy to receive all supporters of the deputation.
I am. Sir. vour obedient servant.
licholas-street, Chester, July 7th, 1869. ---
THE MANAGERS OF THE ROYAL INFIRMARYAND MR. LAWRIE.
EDWARD LAWRIE.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—With. reference to Mr. Spence’s " statement " in THELANCET of last Saturday, I hope you will allow me to re-mark, that with the exception of a slight mistake as re-
gards the strength of the oil used to dress the wound, forwhich I beg to express my regret, everything that I assertedin my letter of June 19th was strictly in accordance withfact.
I may add that one of my brother house-surgeons would! gladly substantiate the accuracy of my former statements,
through the medium of your columns, did he feel sure that, he would not be subjected to the same treatment which I; have experienced at the hands of the Managers of the’ Roval Infirmarv. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
